Why I Let Go of My Vita

I want to start by saying that the Vita is an amazing piece of hardware with an amazing library of games. With that being said, I can’t say it is for everyone. I’ve noticed that as an adult with a life that doesn’t revolve around games, I have to pick and choose what I want to play. When I look at my Xbox One, 360, or PS3, they look more appealing to me than my Vita did in the beginning. In my opinion, the more intriguing way to play a game is on my television.

The reason for getting a Vita was to have a mobile gaming system that I could play while outside of my home. I soon noticed that I couldn’t take advantage of that like I wanted. I drive a car so I can’t play while commuting. I have a job where I am constantly in meetings or doing some sort of work so I am not able to play on breaks (if I get any). My plan just didn’t work out like I thought it would.

Now this is not just about the Vita. It’s about all mobile gaming systems. I believe I would be in the same situation if I owned 3Ds. Most mobile phone games are popular because they don’t take much time and you always have your phone on you. There are games that are like this on the Vita and Nintendo 3Ds but that was not the experience I was looking for and I am not constantly carrying those around in my pocket. No one will look at me in a weird way if I pull out a phone at my desk either.

I’m sure there will be some criticism for my decision but I got the most value by getting rid of the system. It is better in the hands of someone that will use the Vita to its full potential. I’m sure this has happened to a number of people. I don’t think mobile gaming will go away but I do see a change in the future.

While I understand the rational behind the argument that cell phone gaming is taking over the mobile gaming industry, I do not see traditional gaming systems disappearing any time soon. Cell phone games may be convenient, cheap, and oftentimes free; but it comes at a cost. In-App Purchases are in almost all the top games in both Android and iOS app stores and entice the player to spend real money to buy “gems” or “coins” in order to progress or speed up in-game features. In the end, these games are a scam by the developers to make a quick buck and are not worth the time it takes to download them in the first place. It’s consumerism at its worst. There might be some hidden gems in the App Store like GTA San Andreas and Minecraft, but anybody who cares about those already has them on a gaming system. Battery life on cell phones nowadays is abysmal. Gaming on a cell phone on the go is just fine if you don’t care about your lifeline to the rest of the world dying in an hour or two.

I use my 3DS and my Vita to game on the go depending on the mood. I’ve tried many mobile games and they make me feel dead inside. Nothing compares to a well written game on a solid handheld to round out my lunch break or chill-out session at home.

The saddest part of this is that many people will only ever experience cell phone games and never experience true classics like Hotline Miami, Luftrausers, Pokemon, Super Smash Bros., and many other games on dedicated mobile gaming systems.

Thanks for following the “Vita is dead/should be dead” trope in game journalism. Keep wishing for the end times.

While I understand the rational behind the argument that cell phone gaming is taking over the mobile gaming industry, I do not see traditional gaming systems disappearing any time soon. Cell phone games may be convenient, cheap, and oftentimes free; but it comes at a cost. In-App Purchases are in almost all the top games in both Android and iOS app stores and entice the player to spend real money to buy “gems” or “coins” in order to progress or speed up in-game features. In the end, these games are a scam by the developers to make a quick buck and are not worth the time it takes to download them in the first place. It’s consumerism at its worst. There might be some hidden gems in the App Store like GTA San Andreas and Minecraft, but anybody who cares about those already has them on a gaming system. Battery life on cell phones nowadays is abysmal. Gaming on a cell phone on the go is just fine if you don’t care about your lifeline to the rest of the world dying in an hour or two.

I use my 3DS and my Vita to game on the go depending on the mood. I’ve tried many mobile games and they make me feel dead inside. Nothing compares to a well written game on a solid handheld to round out my lunch break or chill-out session at home.

The saddest part of this is that many people will only ever experience cell phone games and never experience true classics like Hotline Miami, Luftrausers, Pokemon, Super Smash Bros., and many other games on dedicated mobile gaming systems.

Thanks for following the “Vita is dead/should be dead” trope in game journalism. Keep wishing for the end times.

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